STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- No yarmulkes were required as participants prayed, meditated, sang and danced at the first service on Rosh Hashanah at the new Congregation Om Shalom in St. George.

Dubbed "the Nation's first Jewish Fusion Congregation," Om Shalom incorporates a yoga chanting sound in its name and blends spiritual Judaism with yoga, meditation, Buddhism and Hinduism. The LGBT-friendly congregation is open to interfaith couples, people of all religions, atheists and agnostics.

The more than 25 children and adults were encouraged to take off their shoes and get comfortable as they were meditated into the service by Ms. Sobsey.

Although all the candidates in the fall elections were invited to attend the service, the only one who showed was Republican mayoral hopeful John Catsimatidis, who contributed a "lucky $2 bill" to the congregation on behalf of himself and his wife, Marco.

Catsimatidis was responding to a request by the rabbi that all Staten Islanders donate $1 and ask their friends and relatives in the real world and on the worldwide web to do the same in an effort to raise the $100,000 needed yearly to operate a synagogue.

Brighton Heights Reformed Church has been rented only for Rosh Hashanah and tickets were $18, but if the synagogue's fundraising efforts are successful, the rabbi wants to provide free space to non-profits for their programs.

For information, visit the web site Omshalom.org, e-mail rabbisamtosha@gmail.com. or call 718-710-0599.

AHAVATH ISRAEL

Rabbi and Cantor Avraham Maza will conduct Yom Kippur services at Congregation Ahavath Israel in Tottenville, beginning on the evening of Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. An elaborate Sisterhood breakfast will follow the blowing of the shofar at 7:49 p.m. on Yom Kippur, Sept. 14. For information, call 718-356-8740.

TEMPLE ISRAEL

Temple Israel Reform Congregation of Staten Island in Randall Manor will hold two free Yom Kippur services that are open to the public, a Children's Service on Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and an adult service at 5:30 p.m. on that Saturday. For information, call 718-727-2231.

TORAS EMES

Simultaneous free Yom Kippur services in Hebrew and English with Russian prayer books will be held at two Oakwood locations, Congregation Toras Emes and PS53, beginning on Sept. 13, at 7:15 p.m. For information, contact Rabbi Yochanan Ivry at mailto:rabbiivry@gmail.comor call 718-667-5228.

TEMPLE EMANU-EL

Temple Emanu-El of Port Richmond will hold a free Yom Kippur highlight service that lasts only one hour beginning at 4 p.m. on Sept. 14. For information, call 718-442-5966.

B'NAI JESHURUN

Yom Kippur services at Congregation B'nai Jeshurun start at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 13. A Kids Service will be held on Sept. 14 at 10:30 a.m. For information, call 718-981-5550 or e-mail CBJshul@aol.com.

B'NAI ISRAEL

Congregation B'nai Israel in Bay Terrace will hold Yom Kippur services that start on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m. First-time members are eligible for membership discounts. For information, call the office at 718-987-8188.